Robert steel



(No Model.)

, R.STEEL.' I SNOW AND ICE MELTI-NG MACHINE.

Patented Apr.- 12,1892,

on the line a b, Fig. 1.

- UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT STEEL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEWIS G. SCHMUOKER, OF SAME PLACE.

s'Now AND ICE MELTNING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,831, dated April 12, 1892.

Application filed April 14, 1891.:

c are provided with valves or cocks c' to regu- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT STEEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Penn sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snow and Ice Melting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse section, as

Fig. 4: is a partial longitudinal section, as on the line 0 d, Fig. 1.

This invention consists in the combination,

with a wheeled or traveling body, of a com-' bustion-chamber of novel construction supported thereon, a fan, and an oil-reservoir, both communicating with said chamber, the whole being so constructed and relatively arranged that the oil may be fed from the reservoir to and ignited in the combustion-chamber, and the flame thus produced be so di rected by the fan-blast as to strike upon and thereby melt the ice or snow lying in the path traversed by the structure.

The inventionralso consists in details of" construction, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the annexed drawing-s, A represents a supporting frame or body, which is mounted upon suitable carrying-wheels A. On the rear of this frame or body is borne a Wide box or casing B, the mouth or expanded portion of which is directed downward. The interior of this box or casing consitutes a combustion-chamber. In the rear wall of the latter is a curved shelf b, in which asbestus b or other similar material is contained and in which shelf a laterally-perforated pipe b is supported. Communicating with this pipe at or near its ends, respectively, are two (or more) feed-tubes c, which extend thereto from an oil barrel or reservoir 0, mounted on the elevated forward end of the frame. Thus the oil contents of the barrel or reservoir may be fed to the perforated pipe and distributed through the holes in this pipe to the asbestus, so as to saturate the same. The feed-tubes Serial No. 388,845. (No model.)

late or check the flow of oil from the reservoir.

Mounted, also, upon the frame A, intermediate the combustion-chamber and the oil-reservoir is a blast-fan D, the discharge-mouth of which opens into a conduit E, which communicates directly wi th the combustion-chamber slightly above the shelf 1). The rear wall of this chamber is curved or inclined backward from the shelf to the conduit, so that when the fan is operated the blast therefrom is directed upon and forwardly beyond the shelf. On one end of the fan-shaft d is a pinion f, which is geared with a spur-wheel f, loosely mounted on a stud f projecting from the side of the fan-case. On this stud is a pinion f which engages a large spur-wheel f fixed to theadjacent carrying-wheel of the supporting-frame. By this system of gearing it will be obvious that when the apparatus is in mot-ion that is, drawn by horses or propelled by an enginethe fan is driven at an exceedingly high rate of speed.

In operation thevalves or cocks on the oilfeed tubes are opened, so as to permit the flowing or oil from the reservoir to the asbestus in the combustion-chamber. The oil-saturated asbestus is then ignited and the apparatus started over the path from which it is desired to remove ice or snow. The fan is thereupon driven in the manner above described, and the action of the blast on the burning oil supports the combustion of the oil and directs the flames therefrom downward upon the ice or snow, thus melting the latter from the path traversed. By reason of the shape of the box B the flames are massed and directed in a solid line, so to say, toward the earth, so as to insure the best possible results. This box is provided with a hinged door or lid b whereby access to the interior chamber may be readily gained.

The oil-reservoir may consist of an ordinary oil-barrel, which may be removed and replaced at pleasure.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and Wish to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a snow and ice melter, the combina= tion, with the wheeled or travelingbody, of the combustion-chamber, theasbestus-supportin g shelf therein extending transversely of said chamber, the fan communicating with said chamber, the oil-reservoir, and the feed tube or tubes leading therefrom to said shelf, subgearing operatively connecting one'of the carrying-wheels with the shaft of the fan, suhstantially as described.

3. The combination, with the wheeled or traveling body, of the combustion-chamber,

the supporting-shelf therein for asbestus or the like, the perforatedIpipe in said shelf, the oil-reservoir, its feed tube or tubes communicating with said pipe, the fan communicating with said chamber, and means for operating said fan, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed 0 my signature this 2dday' of April, A. D. 1891.

ROBERT STEEL.

l/Vitnesses:

J om: R. NOLAN, JOSHUA A. PUsEY. 

